JPH08280902A - Pinball clogging liminating device of pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate pinball clogging without changing the shape of a pinball passage and inducing an impact sound. CONSTITUTION: A vibrator 4 is arranged to the outside surface of a lower tank 2 and, when a winning pinball is detected by a winning pinball detection switch 10 and an upper tank switch 3 and not detected by a winning pinball detection switch 8, a computer 11 judges the generation of pinball clogging to drive the motor 5 in the vibrator 4 to generate the vibration caused by the eccentric rotary motion of an unbalance wt. 6. When the winning pinball is detected by the winning pinball detection switch 8 thereafter, the vibration of the vibrator 4 is stopped and, when the winning pinball is not detected by the winning pinball detection switch 8, the vibration of the vibrator 4 is continued for a predetermined time to be stopped and, when the winning pinball is not yet detected by the winning pinball detection switch 8, error display is executed on a display device 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pachinko machine,
The present invention relates to a device for eliminating ball clogging in a pachinko machine called an arepachi machine, an arrangement ball machine, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pachinko machine, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-215, an opening is provided at a connecting portion existing between a tank of a prize ball device and a prize ball passage. There is known a ball clogging elimination device that eliminates the ball clogging by forming an opening and closing the opening with a clearing plate in a normal state and swinging the clearing plate with an electromagnetic solenoid when the ball clogging occurs.

[0003]

In this conventional ball clogging elimination device, since the elimination plate constitutes a part of the prize ball passage, it is troublesome to assemble the elimination plate and the electromagnetic solenoid. A step or a gap is likely to be formed at a portion of the passage where the clearance plate is joined, and when the step or the gap is generated, there is a problem that the flow of the ball is deteriorated and the ball is easily clogged.

By the way, among the devices for replenishing game balls from an island to a pachinko machine, there are, for example, JP-A-63-3886, JP-B-3-231, and JP-A-48-10585.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-124682 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-124682, an electromagnetic solenoid is used to apply vibration or shock to an island gutter or a supply pipe extending from a gutter to an upper tank of a pachinko machine. There is known a ball clogging device that eliminates the clogging of balls in a gutter or a supply pipe.

However, although it is conceivable to use an electromagnetic solenoid as a vibration source of a ball clogging elimination device of a pachinko machine like this replenishing system, in that case, the vibration is small and the amplitude is optimal for eliminating the ball clogging. Not only is it difficult to generate a high number of so-called high-frequency vibrations, but also impact noise may occur, which may make the player uncomfortable.

Therefore, according to the present invention, vibration is generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight, so that the shape of the ball passage is not changed, the impact noise is not generated, and the ball clogging can be eliminated. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a vibrator device is provided on the outer surface of the ball passage forming member, the vibrator device generating vibration by eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight by the motor. In a second aspect, in addition to the vibrator device according to the first aspect, a detection means, a determination means, and a vibration starting means are provided, and the detection means has a passage on which the gaming ball is circulated by its own weight, upstream and downstream of a vibrator device installation portion. Detecting the presence or absence of a game ball in, the determination means determines the occurrence of a ball clogging inside the passage that circulates the game ball under its own weight based on the upstream and downstream side ball detection signals, and the vibration start means determines whether a ball clogging has occurred. In this configuration, the motor of the vibrator device is rotationally driven for a predetermined time to vibrate the vibrator device. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the means described in the second aspect, it is determined whether or not the ball clogging is eliminated by the downstream side ball detection signal after the rotation driving of the motor is started. In addition, the vibration stopping means for forcibly stopping is provided. In the fourth aspect, in addition to the means described in the second and third aspects, an abnormality signal is generated when it is determined that the ball clogging is eliminated by the downstream detection signal after the motor has been rotationally driven for a predetermined time, and the ball clogging is not eliminated. This is a configuration including a notification means. In claim 5,
The ball passage forming member according to claim 1 is a prize ball tank,
The vibrator device is installed on the outer surface of the alignment guide of the prize ball tank. In a sixth aspect, in addition to the means described in the fifth aspect, there is provided a determination operation executing means for detecting the presence or absence of a winning ball and executing the determining operation of the determining means when the winning ball is present. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the ball passage forming member according to the first aspect is an upper dish set, and the vibrator device is installed on the outer surface of the alignment guide of the upper dish set. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the vibrator device according to the first aspect includes a motor, an unbalanced weight integrally rotatably attached to an output shaft of the motor, and a case for covering the unbalanced weight and the motor. On the other hand, the case is divided, a support portion is formed inside the accommodation space of the division case, and the support portion is engaged with the fixing portion of the motor to position the motor inside the accommodation space of the division case. This is a configuration in which the divided cases are integrally coupled to each other and the motor is fixedly supported inside the case. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a spacer made of a cushioning material is interposed between the supporting portion and the fixing portion of the motor described in the eighth aspect, and the divided cases are integrally coupled to each other to fixedly support the motor inside the case. Is. According to a tenth aspect, the vibrator device according to the first aspect is configured with a motor, an unbalanced weight integrally rotatably attached to an output shaft of the motor, and a case that covers the unbalanced weight and the motor. The outer surface of the ball passage forming member is provided with an engaging portion having grooves which face each other at a predetermined interval, and a cushioning body is adhered to the outer surface located between these engaging portions, and each of the grooves of the engaging portion is provided. Both ends of the case are inserted, a cushion is elastically interposed between the case and the outer side surface, and both ends of the case are fixed to the engaging portion by the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the cushion. is there. In claim 11,
The stopper is provided on the outer surface of the case according to claim 10, while the stopper receiver is provided on the outer surface located between the engaging portions, and both ends of the case are inserted into the grooves of the engaging portion to engage the engaging portion. The stopper is fixed to the stopper receiver while being mounted on.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight of the vibrator device installed on the outer surface of the sphere passage forming member causes vibration, so that the vibration causes sphere clogging from the sphere passage forming member. It is transmitted to the game ball, and the game balls vibrate each other little by little to eliminate mutual meshing, and quietly clear the ball clogging while ensuring the flowability of the ball passage. According to claim 2, although the game ball is present on the upstream side of the ball passage in which the vibrator device is installed,
When there is no game ball on the downstream side, it is determined that ball clogging has occurred and the vibrator device is vibrated for a predetermined time, so when the game is being executed and when necessary, the vibrator device is automatically controlled. , Automatically clear the ball clogging. According to the third aspect, when the ball clogging is resolved by starting the vibration of the vibrator device, the vibration of the vibrator device is stopped even if it does not reach a predetermined time. Therefore, the vibrator device is driven for a necessary time, and unnecessary power consumption is consumed. Suppresses and protects the vibrator to automatically clear the ball clogging. According to the fourth aspect, when the ball clogging is not eliminated even by the vibration of the vibrator device for a predetermined time,
Since the vibration of the vibrator device is stopped and an abnormal signal is generated, useless power consumption can be suppressed, the vibrator can be protected, and maintenance inspection for ball clogging elimination is promoted. According to the fifth aspect, vibration is generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight of the vibrator device installed on the outer surface of the alignment guide portion of the prize ball tank, so that the vibration causes ball clogging from the ball passage forming member. It is transmitted to the prize balls, and the prize balls vibrate each other little by little to eliminate the meshing between them, and quietly clear the ball clogging while ensuring the flowability of the prize ball passage. According to the sixth aspect, when there is a winning ball, when there is no winning ball on the downstream side even though the winning ball exists on the upstream side of the winning ball passage in which the vibrator device is installed, the vibrator device is present. Vibrates for a predetermined time,
Only when it is necessary to pay out the prize balls, the vibrator device is automatically controlled to automatically clear the ball clogging. According to claim 7, since vibration is generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight of the vibrator device installed on the outer surface of the alignment guide portion of the upper plate set, the vibration causes a ball clogging from the upper plate set. Transmitted to the ball, the game balls vibrate each other little by little to eliminate the meshing of each other, and quietly clear the game ball clogging while ensuring the flowability of the ball passage of the upper plate set. According to the eighth aspect, the motor having the unbalanced weight is positioned and arranged inside the accommodation space of the split case, the split cases are integrally coupled to each other, and the motor is fixedly supported inside the case. Vibration generated by the eccentric rotary motion is efficiently transmitted from the motor to the case. According to the ninth aspect, since the spacer made of the cushioning material is interposed between the support portion of the split case and the fixed portion of the motor, the spacer can be used as the motor without the need for high dimensional accuracy regarding motor support inside the case. The rattling is absorbed, an impact noise is prevented from being generated inside the vibrator device, and the vibration transmission efficiency from the motor to the case is also improved. According to the tenth aspect, when the case covered with the motor and the unbalanced weight is inserted into each of the grooves of the engaging portion, the case is restored by the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the cushioning body interposed between the case and the outer side surface. Since both ends of the are fixed to the engaging portions, it is possible to prevent impact noise from being generated at the installation portion of the vibrator device, and improve the efficiency of vibration transmission from the case to the ball passage forming member. According to the eleventh aspect, since the stopper is fixed to the stopper receiver, the vibrator device can be stably attached to the ball passage forming member.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings by giving the same reference numerals to the same parts. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko machine as a first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the vibrator device of the first embodiment is attached to a lower tank, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment state of the
5 is a perspective view showing details of a side of the mount base on which the motor is attached, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 and 9 are flowcharts of the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a front view of the pachinko machine of the second embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an upper tank, 2 is a lower tank, and 3 is a control such as a limit switch which detects whether or not a prize ball exists inside the upper tank 1 and controls an electric signal to be described later. The upper tank switch 4 as an upstream detecting means for outputting to the device 11 is a vibrator device attached to the outer surface of the lower tank 2 at a place where the prize balls are likely to be clogged in the lower tank 2, and the vibrator device 4 is a motor. The unbalanced weight 6 is integrally rotatably fixed to the output shaft of the motor 5, and the motor 5 and the unbalanced weight 6 are covered with a case described later.
When rotationally driven, the center of gravity of the unbalanced weight 6 swivels around the output shaft of the motor 5, and due to the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight 6, for example, high frequency vibration such as that generated in a commercially available electric toothbrush is generated. The generated vibrations are transmitted from the motor 5 to the lower tank 2 via the case, and the plurality of prize balls having ball clogging inside the prize ball passage are vibrated little by little, and the prize balls are engaged with each other. It eliminates the ball clogging.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a prize ball passage which is connected to the outlet of the lower tank 2 and temporarily stores prize balls in a line in a completely aligned state.
Reference numeral 8 is a prize ball detection switch for detecting whether or not a prize ball exists inside the prize ball passage 7 in a non-contact manner such as a photo sensor and outputting an electric signal to the control device 11, and 9 is a prize ball passage. Reference numeral 10 denotes a winning ball detection switch that detects whether or not a winning ball exists inside the winning passage 9 without contact and outputs an electric signal to the control device 11.

The control device 11 comprises a microcomputer that operates according to a preset program when it is started by turning on a power switch 13 provided in the terminal box 12, and the game of the pachinko machine is preset. In addition to the game control function for controlling the situation, in particular, the prize ball detection signal from the upper tank switch 3 and the prize ball detection switch 8, the prize ball detection switch 1
By receiving a winning ball detection signal from 0, it is determined whether or not a ball clogging occurs in the lower tank 2 depending on whether or not a winning ball exists upstream and downstream of the vibrator device 4 when a winning occurs. If it is determined that the ball clogging occurs, a drive signal is output to the vibrator device 4 to rotationally drive the motor 5 for a predetermined time such as 10 seconds, thereby causing the vibrator device 4 to generate high-frequency vibration. It is continuously determined from immediately after the start of the vibration operation of the vibrator device 4 until the end of the vibration operation for a predetermined time whether or not the ball clogging is resolved, and when the ball clogging is resolved immediately after the start of the vibration operation, the vibrator device 4 is activated. If the ball clogging is not resolved, the vibration operation of the vibrator device 4 is continued for a predetermined time and the vibration operation of If you have not eliminated the time after the ball clogging to inform the player or the clerk spheres clogging and generates an error signal to stop the oscillation operation of the vibrator device 4.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an inner frame, and 15 denotes a game board housing frame attached to the back surface of the inner frame 14. This game board housing frame 1
On the back surface of 5, a tank set 16, a prize ball discharging mechanism 17, a rear cover 18 for covering the back of an accessory (not shown) protruding from the game plate housing frame 15 to the back side and its drive circuit, the control device 11 and the sink. The set 52 is attached.

The tank set 16 is a game board housing frame 15
A unit in which an upper tank 1 having an upper tank switch 3, a lower tank 2 having a vibrator device 4, and a terminal box 12 are assembled to a set base fixed to the back surface of the same with screws (not shown).

The upper tank 1 stores a large number of game balls supplied from the island supply system as prize balls according to an instruction from a hall computer in the store (not shown), and stores the stored prize balls in the lower tank 2. As the prize balls inside are consumed, they are sequentially supplied to the inside of the lower tank 2.

In the lower tank 2, in the process in which a large number of prize balls roll from the upstream on the left side to the downstream on the right side in FIG. 1 due to the weight of the prize balls, first, the prize balls which are overlapped with each other are vertically stacked. Many arranged in a line when viewed from above, then guide the award balls riding on the top between the award balls in the lower line to form a line from the top side and the back side. The prize balls are aligned and sequentially discharged into the prize ball passage 7 of the prize ball discharging mechanism 17.

The prize ball discharging mechanism 17 is provided below the prize ball passage 7, the prize ball detecting switch 8 as a downstream side detecting means, the prize ball passage 9, the prize ball detecting switch 10 as a prize ball detecting means, and the prize ball passage 7. The provided count sprocket 19, the discharge passage 20 and the count sprocket 1 that extend to the lower left of the prize ball passage 7 at the count sprocket 19 portion.
The portion 9 is provided with a ball removing passage 21 that is branched from the prize ball passage 7 below, and the prize ball passage 7 is arranged so that the prize balls discharged from the lower tank 2 are moved downward by the weight of the prize balls in a completely aligned state. The number of prize balls is completely aligned in a line from the prize ball passage 7 to the lower tank 2 by allowing the count sprocket 19 to receive the lowest prize balls that flow down while meandering to the left and right. The winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 10 is output to the control device 11,
When the control device 11 outputs a prize ball discharge signal to the prize ball discharge mechanism 17, a sprocket stopper (not shown) in the prize ball discharge mechanism 17 unlocks the count sprocket 19, and the prize ball is discharged from the prize ball passage 7. It is paid out via 20 to an upper plate set (not shown) provided on the front surface of the inner frame 14.

In the process of paying out the prize balls, a prize ball count detection switch (not shown) in the prize ball discharging mechanism 17 counts the number of prize balls paid out as the count sprocket 19 rotates and sends an electric signal to the controller 11. When the output value is output and the count value matches the predetermined number of payouts, the control device 11 outputs a payout stop signal.
When output to 7, the sprocket stopper locks the count sprocket 19 and finishes paying out a predetermined number of prize balls.

When all the prize balls between the upper sprocket 1 and the count sprocket 19 are to be removed, the passage is switched from the discharge passage 20 to the ball passage 21 to discharge all the prize balls out of the pachinko machine. . The terminal box 12 has a built-in input / output terminal for exchanging various signals such as game information, the number of winning balls, the number of prize balls to be paid out, and the stop with the control device 11 with a hall computer (not shown) in the store. .

The control device 11 is provided with an error indicator 22 and a reset button 23. The error indicator 22 displays various error mode patterns according to the abnormal signal generated by the control device 11, and the reset button 23 is artificially displayed. By turning on the operation, the display operation of the error mode symbol of the error display 22 is stopped and the abnormal stop operation of the control device 11 is returned to a normal playable state.

In FIG. 2, the lower tank 2 is a bottom surface 24 that promotes the flow of prize balls, a back wall 48 that is raised above the back side edge of the bottom surface 24, and is raised above the front side edge of the bottom surface 24. The front wall 25, the rear wall 48, and the lower tank cover 26 that is mounted over the upper edge of the front wall 25 are provided with an alignment guide passage 27, and the height of the alignment guide passage 27 is left. From the diameter of one prize ball to less than twice that diameter, the width of the alignment guide passage 27 The distance between the wall 48 and the front wall 25 is approximately the same as the diameter of one prize ball so that one prize ball can pass therethrough, and the alignment guide passage 27 is located at the bottom as shown in FIG. Prize balls that overlap each other inside the tank 2 Viewed from above form part aligned in a row, the lower tank 2 to the front surface of the front wall 25 of the lower tank 2
A pair of engaging portions 28, which face each other in the direction along the flow-down direction of the prize ball, are integrally provided in the inside of the
The inner surfaces facing each other of have vertical grooves 29 formed between them and the front wall 25, and these vertical grooves 29 open in the directions facing each other and in the vertical direction, and these vertical grooves 29 are opened from above the vertical grooves 29. By inserting the left and right end portions of the vibrator device 4, the vibrator device 4 is attached to the outer surface of a specific portion of the lower tank 2.

In FIG. 3, the above-mentioned case of the vibrator device 4 is composed of two divided cases which are divided in a direction along the axial direction of the motor 5, and one of the divided cases is a mount cover 30 made of synthetic resin. The mount cover 30 has a housing space 31 that is opened forward, a center support portion 32 that is formed in a semi-arcuate shape inside the housing space 31, and a cut 3 that is formed in a peripheral wall of the housing space 31.
3, the convex portion 3 formed to project from the opening edge of the accommodation space 31
4. The prepared hole 35 formed inside the accommodation space 31 is integrally formed by resin molding.

The other split case is a mount base 36 made of synthetic resin, which has a center support portion 37 and a front bearing support portion 38 projectingly formed on the surface on the mount cover 30 side, and projecting on the opposite side surface. The formed stopper 39, the concave portion 40 formed corresponding to the convex portion 34 of the mount cover 30, the prepared hole 3 of the mount cover 30
5 has a countersink hole 41 formed corresponding to No. 5 integrally by resin molding.

On the outer peripheral surface of the central portion of the casing of the motor 5, a spacer 42 made of an elastic cushioning material is located on the mount base 36 side and adhered in a semi-arcuate shape.

To cover the motor 5 with the mount cover 30 and the mount base 36, for example, the motor is adjusted so that the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the spacer 42 contacts the semi-circular arc surface of the center support portion 37 of the mount base 36. After mounting the central portion of the casing of No. 5 on the semi-circular surface of the center support portion 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 5b at the front of the motor 5 on the semi-circular surface of the front bearing support portion 38, The mount cover 30 is mounted on the mount base 30 so that the lead wire 5a of the motor 5 can be taken into the notch 33 and pulled out from the housing space 31 to the outside of the mount cover 30, and the motor 5 can be housed inside the housing space 31.
The projection 34 of the mount cover 30 is inserted into the recess 40 of the mount base 36, and the mount cover 30 and the mount base 36 are aligned with each other. Fasten a screw such as a tapping screw with a countersunk head (not shown).

By this fastening, the center support portion 37 of the mount base 36 is elastically deformed so as to compress the spacer 42 inside the accommodation space 31 formed in the sealed space for accommodating the motor 5, and the spacer 42 By the restoring force, the center support portion 32 of the mount cover 30 closely receives the outer peripheral surface of the casing of the motor 5 where the spacer 42 is not provided, and the front bearing support portion 3
8 receives the bottom portion of the motor 5 in a close contact state, and as a result, the spacer 42 absorbs the gap between the case and the motor 5 even if the dimensional accuracy between the motor 5 and the motor 5 is not made high at the time of molding the case. The motor 5 can be fixed to the inside of the case including the mount cover 30 and the mount base 36, which are integrally connected, without rattling.

In this state, when electric power is supplied to the motor 5 from the outside of the vibrator device 4 by the lead wire 5a, the unbalanced weight 6 integrally rotatably coupled to the output shaft 5c protruding from the bearing 5b of the motor 5 is accommodated in the accommodation space 31. The eccentric rotary motion is performed without interfering with the mount cover 30 and the mount base 36 inside to generate high frequency vibration, and the generated high frequency vibration is generated by the spacer 4
2. The motor 5 can be efficiently transmitted to the mount cover 30 and the mount base 36 via the center support portions 32 and 37 and the front bearing support portion 38, and the motor 5 rattles in the case via the spacer 42 while the vibration is generated. Since it is fixed so that there is no
It is possible to prevent the impact noise from being generated without coming into small contact with the second bearing 37 and the front bearing support portion 38.

Further, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 43 corresponds to the stopper 39 of the mount base 36 and the front wall 25 of the lower tank 2.
A stopper receiver 44 formed in the upper edge of the lower tank 2 is provided with a bottom 44 of the lower tank 2 for discharging foreign substances such as dust and screws that have entered the alignment guiding passage 27 of the lower tank 2 to the outside from the alignment guiding passage 27. A long hole formed at the connecting portion between the front wall 25 and the front wall 25, and 45 is a buffer body having elasticity.

This shock absorber 45 is adhered to the surface of the front wall 25 located between the engaging portions 28 before the vibrator device 4 is attached to the lower tank 2, and the mount cover 30 of the mount base 36 causes the motor 5 to move. In the process of inserting the left and right ends protruding outward in the axial direction into the vertical groove 29 of the lower tank 2, the mount base 36 elastically deforms the buffer body 45 so as to compress the buffer body 45 with the front wall 25 of the lower tank 2. , The restoring force of the cushioning body 45 presses the mount base 36 toward the outside of the front wall 25 of the lower tank 2 so that the left and right ends of the mount base 36 are in close contact with each other without rattling the engaging portion 28. Can be supported and fixed to.

The reason why the shock absorber 45 is adhered to the surface of the front wall 25 before the vibrator 45 is attached to the lower tank 2 is that the mount base 36 is vertically attached while the shock absorber 45 is adhered to the mount base 36. When it is inserted into the groove 29, at the time when the insertion is started, the buffer 45 is caught on the upper edge of the front wall 25 or is scratched and easily peeled off. However, as in this embodiment, the vibrator device 4 is used.
This is because the above-mentioned inconvenience can be eliminated by adhering the buffer body 45 to the lower tank 2 prior to mounting it on the lower tank 2.

The stopper 39 provided on the mount base 36 has the left and right ends of the mount base 36 at the lower tank 2.
When it is inserted into the vertical groove 29 of the above from above, it is accommodated in the stopper receiver 43 of the lower tank 2 and abuts against the stopper receiver 43.
The vertical mounting position on the lower tank 2 can be secured.

After the stopper 39 comes into contact with the stopper receiver 43, the lower tank cover 26 is attached to the lower tank 2 so that the lower tank cover 26 is stopped.
9 is sandwiched between the front wall 25 and the front wall 25, and as a result, the stopper 39 is fixed to the stopper receiver 43, and the vibrator device 4 is properly assembled by an extremely simple fitting operation without rattling the outer surface of the lower tank 2. Therefore, the mounting of the vibrator device 4 can be stabilized, and the vibration of the vibrator device 4 is efficiently transmitted from the mount base 36 to the lower tank 2 via the engaging portion 28 and the buffer 44.

The spacer 42 and the buffer 45 are also provided.
Is an elastic body such as urethane or synthetic resin or rubber having a large number of closed cells, for example, an elastic body called PEF manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. There is no rattling inside the space 31,
Since the vibrator device 4 does not rattle with the lower tank 2, it is possible to appropriately prevent the generation of impact noise.

In FIG. 4, on the surface of the mount base 36 on the motor 5 side, in addition to the center support portion 37 and the front bearing support portion 38, a plurality of cutout portions 5d formed on the peripheral edge of the bottom portion of the motor 5 are provided. Of the bearing 5e at the bottom of the motor 5 so as not to interfere with the lead wire 5a of the motor 5. A rear bearing support portion 47 that supports the / 4 outer peripheral edge is formed to project.

In FIG. 5, the back wall 48 of the lower tank 2 is disposed on the front surface of the game board housing frame 15 via the set base of the tank set 16 shown in FIG. The vibrator device 4 is provided on the outer surface of the shock absorber 4.
Since it is attached via 5, the vibrator device 4 does not close the long hole 44, and the function of discharging dust or foreign matter from the long hole 44 can be secured.

In FIG. 6, the mount cover 30 includes
In addition to the center support portion 32, the bearing 5b of the motor 5
A front bearing support portion 49 that receives the outer peripheral surface of the motor, a rear bearing support portion 50 that receives the bearing 5e of the motor 5,
A detent portion 51 inserted into one notch portion 5f of the motor 5 different from the above is formed.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 56 denotes the above-mentioned control device 11.
In addition to the game control function for controlling the game of the pachinko machine to be in the preset game situation, it is a CPU built in the CPU, which eliminates the ball clogging that operates according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Judgment means 56a, vibration start means 56b, vibration stop means 56 which constitute the control means
c, an abnormality notifying means 56d, and a determination operation executing means 56e, and the interface circuits 53, 54, 55 individually output detection signals from the upper tank switch 3, the prize ball detection switch 8 and the prize ball detection switch 10. Of the input ports 56f, 56g, and 56h are individually adjusted, and those received signals are used for a predetermined time such as 10 seconds when the winning or the ball clogging occurs, and the output port 56
By supplying an operating current from i to the base of a power transistor 58 that constitutes the drive circuit 57 of the motor 5 to turn on the power transistor 58, an operating current is supplied from the motor power supply Vcc to the motor 5 to rotate the motor 5. To drive.

The drive circuit 57 has a posistor 59 as a resistor having a positive characteristic temperature dependency between the motor 5 and the power transistor 58 (a reverse of a thermistor forming a negative characteristic temperature dependency resistor). A resistor having temperature dependency) is connected in series, and the posistor 59 forcibly cuts off the current supply to the motor 5 due to a sharp increase in the resistance value due to a temperature rise caused by an abnormality such as rocking of the rotating part of the motor 5. Then, burnout of the motor 5 and thermal deformation deterioration of the mount cover 30, mount base 36, and spacer 42 made of synthetic resin covering the motor 5 are prevented in advance.

Further, the drive circuit 57 connects a flywheel diode 60 in parallel with the motor 5, and the flywheel diode 60 regenerates the motor 5 with a reverse current induced in the motor 5 when the power transistor 58 is turned off. As a result, the generation of electrical noise can be suppressed and the energy efficiency can be improved.

The output port 56j of the CPU 56 is, via the interface circuit 61, an error indicator 22, a sounding device 62 such as a pachinko machine or a buzzer provided on an island, a lamp windmill or a side lamp provided on the pachinko machine. Abnormal signal is output to the light emitter 63 such as
When the ball clogging is not resolved even after the vibration operation of the vibrator device 4 for a predetermined time due to the clogging of the ball 56, a preset value such as “E
Error indicator 22 such as 5 ”error mode design
, The sounder 62 is sounded and the light emitter 63 is blinked in an abnormal state to inform the player or store clerk that the vibration of the vibrator device 4 cannot clear the ball clogging, and maintenance for the ball clogging is performed. The inspection can be performed quickly and appropriately.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the controller 11 is activated by turning on (turning on) the power switch 13 shown in FIG. 1 and the game is ready, the processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is performed. Execution is started, initialization processing such as input / output setting of the input / output ports 56f to 56j of the CPU 56, clearing a work area ROM (not shown) in the control device 11 and setting a predetermined measurement time to a timer is performed, and the game is executed. A person operates a launching device (not shown) to play a game ball in the inner frame 14 within the game area of a game plate (not shown) that is visually recognizable from the front, and the game ball is provided on the game plate. When it enters the outside winning opening and becomes a winning ball and is led out to the winning ball passage 9, that is, the winning ball detection switch 10 detects the presence of the winning ball with the winning of the gaming ball in the state where the game is being executed. Output signal to controller 11 Then, the CPU 56 determines whether there is a winning ball, starts the time counting operation of the prize ball detection timer, and determines the on / off state of the detection signal from the upper tank switch 3 (see steps 101 to 104 in FIG. 8). .

When the upper tank switch 3 is in the off state, it means that there is no prize ball in the upper tank 1. Therefore, the CPU 56 notifies the hall computer of the completion processing that there is no prize ball in the upper tank 1. Then, the hall computer that receives this completion processing notification determines whether or not the pachinko machine that has output the completion processing notification has paid out the prize balls of the number of balls allocated in advance, and if it is not stopped Supply a supply instruction to the island supply system and supply the prize ball to the upper tank 1 of the pachinko machine that has output the completion processing notification from the island. Conversely, if it is a stop, supply it to the island supply system. Instead of outputting an instruction, the controller 11 of the pachinko machine that has output the completion processing notification is instructed to stop paying out the prize balls or to stop the launching operation of the launching device, and strike the player. Notifying that became stopped (see step 105 of FIG. 8).

When the upper tank switch 3 is on, it means that the upper tank 1 has a prize ball.
The CPU 56 measures the duration of the ON state of the award ball detection switch 8 using the time measured by the award ball detection timer, and presets the measured duration of the ON state of the award ball detection switch 8 such as 3 seconds. It is determined whether or not the predetermined prize ball existence confirmation time has continued for a predetermined time or more, and if the ON state of the detection signal from the prize ball detection switch 8 continues for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer, the prize ball passage 7 is displayed. Since it means that there is a prize ball, that is, that the prize ball normally exists from the tank set 16 to the prize ball discharging mechanism 17 and the ball is not clogged, the control device 11 causes the prize ball to be displayed. The prize-ball payout process of outputting a prize-ball discharge signal to the discharge mechanism 17 is executed to stop the time-measurement operation of the prize-ball detection timer, the time-keeping memory is cleared, and one cycle of the ball-clogging elimination process is completed (FIG. 8). Su Tsu see-flops 106 to 108).

If the upper tank switch 3 is in the ON state and the prize ball detection switch 8 is in the OFF state or the ON state of the prize ball detection switch 8 does not continue for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer, the prize ball is in the tank. Although present in set 16,
It is presumed that the tank set 16 has not been normally supplied to the prize ball discharging mechanism 17 and ball clogging has occurred, and the ball clogging elimination processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

In the processing for clearing the ball clogging, CP
After U56 starts the motor operation timer timing operation and drives the motor 5, the duration of the ON state of the prize ball detection switch 8 utilizing the time measured by the prize ball detection timer continues for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer. Is the motor 5
It means that the ball clogging is eliminated by the driving of the motor 5 and the prize ball is supplied from the lower tank 2 to the prize ball passage 7 immediately after the motor 5 is driven. Therefore, the CPU 56 stops the driving of the motor 5 and The time counting operation of the operation timer is stopped, the time counting memory is cleared, and one cycle of the ball clogging elimination processing is ended (see steps 109 to 114 in FIG. 9).

Even after the motor 5 is driven,
If the prize ball detection switch 8 is in the off state or if the prize ball detection switch 8 is not kept in the on state for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer, it means that the ball clogging has not been cleared yet. Therefore, the motor 5 is driven. It continues for a predetermined time such as 10 seconds as it is, and when the predetermined time elapses, the motor 5
Is stopped, and the timekeeping operation of the motor operation timer is stopped and the timekeeping memory is cleared, and then it is determined whether the ON state of the prize ball detection switch 8 has continued for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer (Fig. 9 steps 114-117).

If the on-state of the prize ball detection switch 8 continues for the prize ball existence confirmation time or longer, it means that the ball clogging has been eliminated by continuing the driving of the motor 5 for a predetermined time. If the ON state of the prize ball detection switch 8 does not continue for more than the prize ball existence confirmation time, it means that the ball clogging is not resolved even if the motor 5 continues to be driven for a predetermined time. Therefore, the cause of the ball clogging is not a simple one such as excessive contact or meshing among a large number of prize balls inside the lower tank 2, but the ball clogging is caused by a screw inside the lower tank 2 or the like. It is highly possible that this is due to a serious cause such as mixing of foreign matter, and even if the motor 5 is rotated further, the ball clogging cannot be automatically eliminated by vibration. It is presumed that the CPU 56 stops the useless power consumption, protects the motor 5, and does not cause the player to feel uncomfortable. It outputs to the display 22, the sound generator 62, and the light emitter 63 to notify that an abnormality has occurred, and one cycle of the ball clogging elimination processing ends (see step 118 in FIG. 9).

The processes of steps 102 to 118 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are repeatedly executed after the power switch 13 is turned on until the power switch 13 is artificially turned off.

In short, according to this embodiment, existing functional parts such as the upper tank 1, the upper tank switch 3, the prize ball passage 7, the prize ball detection switch 8, the prize ball passage 9, and the prize ball detection switch 10 are left as they are. Utilizing this, a vibrator device 4 that generates high-frequency vibration by rotational driving of a motor 5 having an ambaran weight 6 is installed on the outer surface of the lower tank 2, and the microcomputer of the control device is provided with the vibrator device 4 shown in FIGS.
By writing a program for executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when a player is playing a game, when a ball jam occurs, the ball jam is cleared or a predetermined time such as about 10 seconds. Since the vibrator device 4 is driven to generate vibration only during an earlier period of time, it is possible to prevent the generation of impact noise while ensuring the ease of flow of the balls inside the tank, and to play the game. It is possible to automatically eliminate the ball clogging by generating a high-frequency vibration that is optimal for eliminating the ball clogging without giving a person an unpleasant feeling, and improve the quality reliability.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the vibrator device 4 is installed on the outer side surface of the alignment guide passage 27 which is a specific portion in the lower tank 2 where the ball clogging is likely to occur, high frequency vibration causes the ball clogging. It effectively acts directly on the raised part, and as a result, a small motor with a small output can be used for the motor 5, and the weight of the ambaran weight 6 can be reduced, and overall power consumption is low. It is possible to provide a quiet ball clogging elimination device.

In the case of this embodiment, when the presence or absence of a ball clogging is determined, as shown in step 106 of FIG. 8 and step 110 and step 117 of FIG. 9, the on state of the prize ball detection switch 8 is 3 seconds. Since it is used whether or not the prize ball existence confirmation time has continued for more than a certain degree, as compared with the case where it is determined that the ball clogging does not occur immediately when the ON state of the prize ball detection switch 8 is established. The presence / absence of clogging can be accurately determined.

In this embodiment, the example of eliminating the ball clogging of the prize ball supplying device has been illustrated and described, but as shown in FIG. 10, it is also applied as an example of eliminating the ball clogging in the upper plate set 65. be able to. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a metal frame 66 is attached to the inner peripheral edge of the inner frame 14 so that it can be seen from the front side (the front side in the game state) and can be opened and closed, and a glass 67 is fitted inside the metal frame 66 for deadening. A glass frame 68 and an upper plate set 65 located below the glass frame 68 are attached so as to be openable and closable. The upper plate set 65 projects an upper plate 70 made of synthetic resin on the front surface of a horizontally elongated rectangular metal set base 69. It is assembled to do.

On the upper surface of the upper plate 70, a tank 71 for storing a large number of game balls, and an arrangement for discharging the game balls from the tank 71 in a line in a completely aligned state to a ball action section of a launcher (not shown) In the inner space between the wall forming the alignment guiding passage 72 and the outer wall of the upper plate 70, the vibrator device 4 is installed on the outer surface of the wall forming the alignment guiding passage 72. is there.

Since the internal space for installing the vibrator device 4 is open before the upper plate 70 is mounted on the set base 69, the vibrator device 4 is mounted on the upper surface before the upper plate 70 is mounted on the set base 69. Dish 70
The upper tray 70 may be attached to the set base 69 after the vibrator device 4 is attached to the outer surface of the wall forming the alignment guide passage 72 from the inner space of the above.

Reference numeral 73 in FIG. 10 is a lower plate set assembled to the lower portion of the front surface of the inner frame 14, and 74 is a handle grip of the firing device.

[0056]

The present invention has the following effects. According to claim 1, the vibration generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight of the vibrator device on the outer surface of the ball passage forming member is transmitted from the ball passage forming member to the game ball in which the ball clogging is generated, and the game ball is It is possible to appropriately eliminate the ball clogging without causing discomfort to the player while ensuring the ease of flow of the ball passage while vibrating each other little by little, and improving the quality reliability. According to claim 2, it is possible to automatically eliminate the ball clogging by automatically controlling the vibrator device when necessary during the game execution. According to the third aspect, it is possible to drive the vibrator device only for a time required to eliminate the ball clogging, suppress wasteful power consumption, protect the vibrator device, and automatically eliminate the ball clogging. According to the fourth aspect, when the ball clogging is not eliminated even after the vibration of the vibrator device for a predetermined time, the vibration of the vibrator device is not continued, wasteful power consumption is suppressed, and the vibrator device is protected. A signal can be generated to meaningfully prompt maintenance inspections for clearing ball clogging. According to claim 5, the vibration generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight of the vibrator device on the outer surface of the alignment guide portion of the prize ball tank is transmitted from the ball passage forming member to the prize ball having the ball clogging. Vibration of the spheres in small increments eliminates the mutual engagement,
It is possible to quietly clear the ball clogging while ensuring the flow of the prize ball passage. According to claim 6, in the state where the game is being executed, the vibrator device can be automatically controlled and the ball clogging can be automatically cleared only when the prize ball payout is necessary. According to claim 7, the vibration generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalance weight of the vibrator device on the outer surface of the alignment guide portion of the upper plate set is transmitted from the upper plate set to the game ball having the ball clogging, and the game ball Can vibrate each other little by little and eliminate the meshing between each other, and it is possible to quietly eliminate the game ball clogging while ensuring the flowability of the ball passage of the upper plate set. According to the eighth aspect, the vibration generated by the eccentric rotational movement of the unbalanced weight can be efficiently transmitted from the motor to the case. According to the ninth aspect, even if the dimensional accuracy regarding the motor support inside the case is not made high, the rattling of the motor can be absorbed by the spacer and the generation of the impact noise inside the vibrator device can be prevented. It is also possible to improve the efficiency of vibration transmission from the motor to the case. According to the tenth aspect, the impact sound is generated at the installation portion of the vibrator device by fixing both ends of the case to the engaging portion by the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the cushioning body interposed between the case and the outer side surface. This can be prevented, and the efficiency of vibration transmission from the case to the ball passage forming member can be improved. According to the eleventh aspect, when both ends of the case are fitted in the grooves of the engaging portion, the stopper is fixed to the stopper receiver, and the vibrator device can be easily and stably attached to the ball passage forming member.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vibrator device according to the first embodiment attached to a lower tank.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a vibrator device and a lower tank according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a side of the mount base on which the motor is attached according to the first embodiment.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line 1A-A in FIG. .

6 is a sectional view taken along line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of the ball clogging elimination device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Lower tank 3 Upper tank switch 4 Vibrator device 5 Motor 6 Unbalance weight 7 Prize ball passage 8 Prize ball detection switch 9 Prize ball passage 10 Prize ball detection switch 11 Control device 30 Mount cover (divided case) 32, 37 Center support part 36 Mount Base (Divided Case) 39 Stopper 42 Spacer 43 Stopper Receiver 45 Buffer 46, 51 Rotation Stopper 56a Judgment Means 56b Vibration Start Means 56c Vibration Stop Means 56d Abnormality Notification Means 56e Judgment Operation Means 70 Upper Plate 72 Alignment Guidance Passage

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A pachinko machine characterized in that a vibrator device for generating vibration by eccentric rotational movement of an unbalanced weight by a motor is installed on an outer surface of a ball passage forming member forming a passage for circulating a game ball under its own weight. Ball clogging elimination device. 2. A detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the game ball on the upstream side and the downstream side of the vibrator device installation portion of the passage for circulating the game ball under its own weight, and the upstream side and downstream side ball detection signals from the detecting means. Judgment means for judging the occurrence of ball clogging inside the passage for circulating the game ball under its own weight, and by virtue of this judgment means judging the occurrence of ball clogging, the motor of the vibrator device is rotationally driven for a predetermined time to vibrate the vibrator device. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration starting means. 3. A vibration stopping means for forcibly stopping the rotational drive of the motor before a predetermined time when it is determined that the ball clogging has been resolved by the downstream side ball detection signal after starting the rotational driving of the motor and the ball clogging has been resolved. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 2, wherein the device is provided. 4. The abnormality notifying means for generating an abnormality signal when it is determined that the ball clogging is eliminated by the downstream side detection signal after the motor is driven to rotate for a predetermined time and the ball clogging is not eliminated. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to any one of 2 and 3. 5. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball passage forming member is a prize ball tank, and a vibrator device is installed on an outer surface of an alignment guide portion of the prize ball tank. 6. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 5, further comprising a determination operation executing means for detecting the presence or absence of a winning ball and executing the determination operation of the determining means when the winning ball is present. . 7. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball passage forming member is an upper plate set, and the vibrator device is installed on an outer surface of an alignment guide portion of the upper plate set. . 8. A vibrator device is composed of a motor, an unbalance weight attached to an output shaft of the motor so as to be integrally rotatable, and a case for covering the unbalance weight and the motor, and the case is divided. And forming a support portion inside the accommodation space of the split case, and engaging the support portion with the fixing portion of the motor to position the motor inside the accommodation space of the split case,
2. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein the split cases are integrally connected to each other and the motor is fixedly supported inside the case. 9. A motor is provided inside the case by interposing a spacer made of a cushioning material between a support portion formed inside the accommodation space of the division case and a fixing portion of the motor, and connecting the division cases together. 9. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 8, wherein the device is fixedly supported on. 10. A vibrator device is composed of a motor, an unbalance weight attached to an output shaft of the motor so as to be able to rotate integrally with the motor, and a case covering the unbalance weight and the motor. The side surface is provided with an engaging portion having grooves which face each other at a predetermined interval, and a cushioning body is adhered to the outer side surface located between these engaging portions, and both ends of the case are respectively attached to the grooves of the engaging portion. 2. A cushioning body is elastically deformed and interposed between the case and the outer side surface, and both ends of the case are fixed to the engaging portions by a restoring force of the elastic deformation of the cushioning body. Ball clogging elimination device for the pachinko machine described. 11. A stopper is provided on the outer side surface of the case, and a stopper receiver is provided on the outer side surface located between the engaging parts, and both ends of the case are inserted into the grooves of the engaging part to form the engaging part. 11. The ball clogging elimination device for a pachinko machine according to claim 10, wherein the stopper is fixed to the stopper receiver while being mounted.